The disclosure of electronic juvenile court records to law enforcement agencies and providing a penalty

What it does

Summary by the Legislative Reference Bureau, the Legislature's nonpartisan drafting office. It's their wording, not ours.

Under current law, the director of state courts has established an automated information system, known as the Consolidated Court Automation Programs (CCAP), that contains information about cases filed in the circuit courts in this state, including cases filed in the courts assigned to exercise jurisdiction under the Juvenile Justice Code (juvenile courts). Records of the juvenile court, however, are confidential and may not be opened to inspection, nor may their contents be disclosed, except under certain statutory exceptions or by an order of the juvenile court. Currently, those exceptions include an exception that requires a juvenile court to disclose its records on the request of a law enforcement agency to review those records for the purpose of investigating alleged criminal gang activity.

This bill permits the juvenile court to transfer to a law enforcement agency the electronic records of the juvenile court, permits the director of state courts to use CCAP to facilitate that transfer of those electronic records, and requires the director of state courts to determine what types of information from those electronic records may be transferred to a law enforcement agency. In addition, the bill requires a law enforcement agency to keep any information from those records transferred to the agency confidential and permits a law enforcement agency to use or allow access to that information only for the purpose of investigating alleged criminal or delinquent activity. Also, the bill requires an individual who is allowed access to any information from those electronic records to keep the information confidential and to use and further disclose the information only for the purpose of investigating alleged criminal or delinquent activity. Finally, the bill provides for a forfeiture of not more than $5,000 for any person who intentionally discloses information in violation of the bill.

Who's behind it

4 senators are its authors⁠. All 4 are Republicans.

14 more lawmakers signed on in support⁠.

What it would cost

State agencies filed a cost estimate. Each opens as a PDF from the Legislature.

• Fiscal Estimate From CTS
• Fiscal Estimate From DOC

Versions and amendments

Every text the Legislature printed for this bill, including proposed changes. Each opens on the Legislature's site.

• Amendment SSA1-SB173
• Amendment SSA2-SB173
• LC Amendment Memo